Soft liner for bathtubs

ABSTRACT

A liner for a bathtub includes a soft, flexible cushion having a compressible thickness and separated into sections shaped to cover the bottom, back wall, side walls, and back and side rims of the tub. The bottom section has a hollow interior filled with water so the liner will not float when the tub is filled, and the sections covering the back, sides, and rims of the tub have hollow interiors inflated with air. Preferably, the water-filled bottom section has non-skid surfaces on both its inner walls and on its bottom outer wall. The liner provides a soft, comfortable receptacle in which to bathe, and protects the user from impact with the hard surfaces of the tub.

United States Patent Morse 1451 July 1, 1975 [54] SOFT LINER FORBATHTUBS 3,133,292 5/1964 Spier 4/185 F 3,300,790 l/l967 Foote 4II8S F[76] Inventor: 'Q- BOX 3,460,167 8/1969 Benjamin 4/173 WaIpahu, Hawan96797 22 F1 d. F b 25 1974 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 e 367,1432/1932 111111611 Kingdom 4/185 F 121 Appl. No.: 445,809

Primar ExaminerHen K Artis Related U.S. Apphcatlon Data y ry [63]Continuation of Ser. No. 254,569, May 18, 1972, Agent F rm-01mm ParkerHalt abandoned.

[57] ABSTRACT Cl 4/185 4/l85 R A liner for a bathtub includes a soft,flexible cushion [51] Int. Cl A47k 3/12 having a compressible thicknessand separated into Field Search-M 4/135 135 185 sections shaped to coverthe bottom, back wall, side /185 HB, 177, I77 lW, 1 walls, and back andside rims of the tub. The bottom section has a hollow interior filledwith water so the [56] References Cited liner will not float when thetub is filled, and the sec- UNITED STATES PATENTS tions covering theback, sides, and rims of the tub 1,039,334 911912 Trick 4/185 F havehollow interiors inflated with Pmferably 1702635 2H9 water-filled bottomsectlon has non-skld surfaces on 1,721,571 7/1929 both its inner wallsand on its bottom outer wall. The 2,264,672 12/1941 liner provides asoft, comfortable receptacle in which 2.532.439 11/1952 a g to bathe,and protects the user from impact with the Gruen hard urfaces of the tub2,853,714 9/1958 Darmstadt I 3,045,254 7/1962 Cock et a]. 4/173 10Chums, 5 Drawing Figures WEW RJUU ms 853221100 SHEET 1 1 SOFT LINER FORBATHTUBS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuationof application Ser. No. 254,569, filed May 18, 1972 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a soft, flexibleand compressible liner for bathtubs.

In the past, various cushioning devices have been developed for liningthe hard surfaces of bathtubs to make them more comfortable andrelatively safe from impacts due to slippage. In one such prior artliner disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,264,672 to Levine, an array ofair-inflated bags covers the bottom and back of the tub. A rubber apronis secured to the sides of the bags so the entire liner covers theentire inside of the tub. Other prior art liners include integral foamrubber cushions, or the like, shaped to cover the entire inner surfaceof the tub. These prior art liners are adapted to cover the entiresurface of the tub so that the water which fills the tub will not getunder them and cause them to float. Such liners have the disadvantagethat they must be manufactured in a wide range of sizes to fit bathtubsof different sizes. Moreover, it is a relatively costly process tomanufacture a liner so it fits the three-dimensional interior of thetub.

The liner disclosed in the Levine patent includes a plurality ofcommunicating pockets spread over the bottom and back of the tub to helpthe liner stay flat when inflated and when the tub is filled. In otherprior art bathtub liners, attempts have been made to hold the liner inplace by adding such things as suction cups, or straps to the liners.However, these features of the prior art bathtub liners add to the costof manufacturing them, and in some cases, particularly the Levine liner,make them especially difficult and expensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a bathtub liner whichlies flat on the bottom of the tub when the tub is filled with water,and which also is of simple construction and therefore easy andinexpensive to manufacture.

Briefly, the liner is a soft, flexible cushion with a compressiblethickness and having a first section shaped to cover the bottom of thetub. The first section has a ho!- low interior, and means for admittingand emptying a substantially incompressible fluid, such as water, to andfrom, respectively, its interior. A second section is flexibly joinedwith the first section and is adapted to provide a compressiblethickness overlying at least a portion of the back wall of the tub.Preferably, the second section has a hollow interior sealed from theinterior of the first section so as to receive a supply of gas, such asair, under pressure.

Thus, when the first section is filled with water, its weight causes itto lie flat against the bottom of the tub when the tub is filled withwater. Moreover, other soft, compressible sections may be attached tothe first section to cover the side walls, back wall, and rims of thetub, and may be filled with air, yet the water-filled section stillsubstantially prevents the cushion from floating when the tub is filledwith water.

In a preferred form of the invention, the cushion in cludes separategas-inflatable sections flexibly joined with the edges of thewater-filled section and shaped to cover the back wall and the sidewalls of the tub. A separate gas-inflatable section is flexibly joinedwith the back section to cover the rim at the back of the tub, and apair of gas-inflatable sections are flexibly joined with the opposedside sections to cover the side rims of the tub. Preferably, the sectionwhich covers the back of the tub is independent of the sections whichcover the sides of the tub. This makes it easy to fit the cushion to thecontour of a variety of different sized bathtubs. When the tub is filledwith water, the water gets under the cushion, but the water-filledsection substantially prevents the cushion from floating. Moreover, thisform of the invention can be manufactured from a pair of contoured,integral sheets of flexible plastic material overlying one another. Thesheets are joined together by a fluid-tight seam extending around theirouter periphery. Other fluid-tight seams divide the overlying sheetsinto sealed and separate sections shaped to closely fit the contour ofthe bottom, back wall, side walls, and rims of the tub.

Thus, the cushion of this invention is of simple construction, andconsists of relatively few parts, and therefore is easy and inexpensiveto manufacture. Moreover, it can be manufactured in a single sizecapable of being adaptable to fit a variety of bathtub sizes.

Preferably, a non-skid surface is applied to the bottom and top of thefirst section, and to both interior walls of the first section toprevent the bottom of the section from skidding relative to the tub, orrelative to the user when he steps into the tub, and also to prevent theinterior walls of the bottom section from skidding relative to eachother, when the user steps into the tub.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other aspects of theinvention will be more fully understood by referring to the followingdetailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a sectional elevation view showing a soft, compressible linerdisposed in a bathtub;

FIG. 2 is a plan elevation view showing the bathtub liner in flat form;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation view, taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2,showing the two-piece construction of the bathtub liner;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2,showing non-skid surfaces applied to the bottom section of the bathtubliner; and

FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment of the non-skid feature shown in FIG.4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, asoft bathtub liner 10 covers the inside of a bathtub 12 to providecomfort for the user and to prevent serious injury from slippage orfalls, for example.

As shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bathtub liner 10 is made of twocontinuous overlying sheets l4, 16 of flexible plastic material, such asrugged polyethylene film. The two sheets preferably are substantially T-shaped when viewed in plan view. A major central portion of the twosheets is joined by a pair of longitudinally extending and parallel sideseams 18, 20. The ends of the side seams are joined by a laterallyextending front seam 22 at an edge of the two sheets, and a laterallyextending rear seam 24 at the junction between the leg of the T and thetop of the T. The side, front, and rear seams 18, 20, 22, 24 preferablyare heat-seals, and cooperate to form a substantially rectangular andfluid-tight bottom compartment 26 having a hollow interior and shaped toclosely fit the contour of a bottom 27 of tub 12. A cut-out area 28 infront seam 22 is shaped to fit around the drain (not shown) in the tub.

A laterally extending seam 30 crosses an intermediate portion of the legof the T, and a pair of longitudinally extending and parallel side seams32, 34 extend along both edges of the T to join the ends of seam 24 withthe ends of seam 30. Seams 24, 30, 32, 34 form a substantiallyrectangular, fluid-tight back compartment 36 having a hollow interiorand shaped to fit a sloping back wall 38 of the tub.

A laterally extending rear seam 40 seals the edge of the two sheets atthe bottom of the leg of the T, and a pair of longitudinally extendingside seams 42, 44, extend along both edges of the leg of the T to jointhe ends of seam 30 with the ends of seam 40. Seams 30, 40, 42, 44cooperate to form a substantially rectangular fluid-tight compartment 46having a hollow interior and shaped to cover a back rim 48 of the tub.

A longitudinally extending seam 50 crosses an intermediate portion ofone side of the top of the T and ex* tends parallel to side seam 18. Apair of laterally extending and parallel seams S2, 54 extending alongboth edges of the top of the T to join the ends of scam 18 with the endsof seam 50. Seams 18, S0, 52, 54 cooperate to form a substantiallyrectangular fluid-tight side compartment 56 having a hollow interior andshaped to fit the contour of a major portion of a side wall 58 of thetub.

A longitudinally extending seam 60 extends along one end of the top ofthe T parallel to seam S0, and a pair of laterally extending andparallel seams 62, 64 extend along both edges of the top of the T tojoin the ends of seam 50 with the ends of seam 60. Seams 50, 60, 62, 64cooperate to form a narrow, substantially rectangular fluid-tightcompartment 66 having a hollow interior and shaped to cover a top rim 68of the tub.

On the other side of compartment 26, a longitudinally extending seam 70,and a pair of parallel, laterally extending seams 72, 74 cooperate toform a fluid-tight side compartment 76, identical to compartment 56, forcovering the side wall (not shown) of the tub opposite side wall 58.Similarly, a longitudinally extending seam 80, and a pair of laterallyextending and parallel seams 82, 84 cooperate with seam 70 to form afluid-tight compartment 86, identical to compartment 66, for coveringthe side rim of the tub opposite rim 68.

A portion of each sheet l4, 16 at the front edge of compartment 26 iscontoured, and the edges of the two sheets sealed together, to form aflexible. elongated tubular conduit 90 which opens into the interior ofcompartment 26. Conduit 90 is sufficiently wide to allow the interior ofthe conduit to be filled with liquids, preferably warm water, and toallow such liquids to be emptied from the compartment interior. Theconduit preferably is sufficiently long and of such size that it canextend up to and around most conventional bathtub faucets to facilitatefilling the interior of compartment 26 with water.

A variety of means can be used to close off the end of conduit 90 aftercompartment 26 is filled. FIG. 2 shows a pair of male-type snap ringfasteners attached to one side of the conduit, and a cooperating pair offemale-type snap ring fasteners attached to the other side of theconduit. In use, the end of the conduit can be rolled up and the snapsfastened together to hold the water inside compartment 26.

A separate gas-admitting conduit 94 opens into each remainingcompartment so that compartments 36, 46, 56, 66, 76, 86 can be filledwith gas, preferably air. Conduits 94 preferably are flexible tubesformed integrally with the liner in a manner similar to water conduit 26to allow the compartments to be inflated with air from the user. Theconduits 94 can be closed off by a variety of suitable means, One way isto twist each conduit, and put it into a tight nearby pocket (not shown)in a manner akin to the conventional air valve used on beach balls.Alternately, each gas conduit 94 can be relatively rigid, and can carrya cap (not shown) attached by a strap hinge and adapted to make a tightfriction fit in the end of the conduit.

The bathtub liner is used by initially inflating the gasfilledcompartments with gas such as air 95. The cushion is then placed insidethe bathtub as shown in FIG. 1. Bottom compartment 26 is placed on thebottom of the tub, and compartments 36 and 46 are laid over the slopingback and back rim of the tub, respectively. Each side compartment 56, 76is placed against a respective side of the tub, and compartment 66, 86are placed over the top rims of the tub to help hold the sidecompartments in place. The seams between sections of the liner act ashinge points to allow the liner to be fitted to the contour of the tub.Bottom compartment 26 is then filled with fluid, preferably warm water96 from the faucet (not shown) of the tub. The tub is then filled withwater 98 to cover the liner. The portions of sheets 14 and 16, whichcomprise the top and bottom walls of compartment 26, are tacked togetherby heat seals 99 at several longitudinally and laterally spaced apartpoints. The walls are tacked together to prevent compartment 26 fromballooning excessively when it is filled with water.

In use, the liner provides a soft, comfortable receptacle in which tobathe. Just enough water can be put into compartment 26 to allow it tocover the area of the tub bottom. Since the side compartments 56, 76 aremovable independently of back compartment 36, these portions of theliner can be molded by the user to the contour of the bathtub interior.The side compartments and end compartments do not have to be integralwith each other to prevent water from getting under the liner, becauseflotation is not a problem. The waterfilled bottom compartment 26prevents the liner from floating when the tub is filled. Moreover, sincethe side compartments are separate from the end compartment, the entireliner can be manufactured from a simple two-piece plastic sheetconstruction, which make it especially easy and inexpensive tomanufacture the liner.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, suitable non-skid surfaces are applied tothe walls of bottom compartment 26 to substantially prevent the userfrom slipping when he steps into the tub and onto the liner. FIG. 4shows a roughened non-skid surface 100 applied to the outer and interiorwalls of the bottom compartment. The roughened surface helps prevent thebottom' of sheet 16 from skidding relative to the bottom of the tub, andalso helps prevent sheet 16 from skidding relative to sheet 18, or fromskidding relative to the user's foot when he steps onto the liner. FIG.5 shows analtemate method of applying non-skid surfaces to the liner, inwhich both interior walls of the bottom compartment have suitablecorrugations 102.

l claim:

1. A flexible and compressible cushion for use in lining a bathtubhaving a bottom, spaced apart side walls, and a back wall, the cushionincluding a first section having a hollow interior and shaped to coverthe bottom of the tub, means on the first section for admitting andemptying a substantially incompressible fluid to and from, respectively,the interior of the first section; a second section flexibly joined withthe first section and adapted to provide a compressible thickness, thesecond section being shaped to cover at least a portion of the back wallof the tub, the second section having a hollow interior sealed from theinterior of the first section for receiving and maintaining a supply ofgas under pressure; and third and fourth sections flexibly joined withopposite sides of the first section, each being shaped to cover at leasta portion of a respective side wall of the tub, and each having a hollowinterior sealed from the interior of the first section for receiving andmaintaining a supply of gas under pressure.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the hollow interior of thefirst section is substantially continuous for the area of the tubbottom.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the first and second sectionsare made of two overlying sheets of flexible plastic material, andincluding means forming a fluid-tight seam around the periphery of thesheets, and means forming another fluid-tight seam across the width ofthe sheets to separate them into a pair of flexibly joined independentcompartments.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the tub has a pair of spacedapart side rims adjoining the side walls, and including fifth and sixthsections flexibly joined with the outer edges of the third and fourthsections, the fifth and sixth sections each having a hollow interiorsealed from the third and fourth sections, respectively, to receive andmaintain a supply of gas under pressure, and each being shaped to coverat least a portion of a respective side rim of the tub.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the tub includes a back rimadjoining the back wall, and includ ing a seventh section flexiblyjoined with the edge of the second section opposite the first section,the seventh section having a hollow interior sealed from the interior ofthe second section for receiving and maintaining a supply of gas underpressure, and being shaped to cover at least a portion of the back rimof the tub.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 including a separate gas-admittingvalve sealed through a wall of each section other than the firstsection.

7. A flexible and compressible bathtub liner for use in lining a bathtubhaving a horizontally disposed bottom surface with an area which extendsbetween an upright front wall, an upright back wall, and spaced apartupright side walls on opposite sides of the bottom surface andcontinuous with the front and back walls to form means for containingwater above the bottom surface of the tub, the bathtub liner including afirst section formed as a bladder having a hollow interior which iscontinuous for substantially the entire area of the tub bottom surfaceso the bladder can cover a substantial portion of the tub bottom surfacewith a depth of water when the bladder interior is filled with water;fluid inlet means to be normally used for admitting and emptying avolume of water to and from, respectively, the hollow interior of thefirst section, the first section supporting the body of a user restingthereon when the hollow interior thereof is filled with water; a secondsection flexibly joined with the first section and having a hollowinterior sealed from the interior of the first section for receiving andmaintaining a supply of gas under pressure, the second section beingshaped to cover a substantial portion of the back wall of the tub; gasinlet means to be normally used for admitting a supply of gas to theinterior of the second section and for effectively maintaining the gasunder pressure within the interior of the second section; third andfourth sections flexibly joined with opposite sides of the firstsection, the third and fourth sections each being shaped to cover atleast a portion of a respective side wall of the tub, and each having ahollow interior sealed from the interior of the first section forreceiving and maintaining a supply of gas under pressure.

8. A flexible and compressible bathtub liner for use in lining a bathtubhaving a horizontally disposed bottom surface with an area which extendsbetween an upright front wall, an upright back wall, and spaced apartupright side walls on opposite sides of the bottom surface andcontinuous with the front and back walls to form means for containingwater above the bottom surface of the tub, the bathtub liner including afirst section formed as a bladder having a hollow interior which iscontinuous for substantially the entire area of the tub bottom surfaceso the bladder can cover a substantial portion of the tub bottom surfacewith a depth of water when the bladder interior is filled with water;fluid inlet means to be used normally for admitting and emptying avolume of water to and from, respectively, the hollow interior of thefirst section, the first section supporting the body of a user restingthereon when the hollow interior thereof is filled with water; a secondsection flexibly joined with the first section and having a hollowinterior sealed from the interior of the first section for receiving andmaintaining a supply of gas under pressure, the second section beingshaped to cover a substantial portion of the back wall of the tub; gasinlet means to be normally used for admitting a supply of gas to theinterior of the second section and for effectively maintaining the gasunder pressure within the interior of the second section; and in whichthe first section has an end remote from the junction between the firstand second sections, the fluid inlet means comprising a flexibleelongated filler tube opening through the first section and projectingaway from said remote end to be normally used for filling the firstsection with water from a bathtub faucet while the first section isresting on the tub bottom.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which the hollow interior of thefirst interior has a flexible top wall spaced from a flexible bottomwall, and including means sealing the interior of the top wall to theinterior of the bottom wall at several spaced apart locations about thefirst section to reduce bulging of the first section when it is filledwith water.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which the hollow interior of thefirst section is substantially continuous for the area of the tubbottom.

* i i i i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENTNO. 1 3,892,000

DATED July 1, 1975 INVENTOR S PETER MORSE It rs certrfred that errorappears in the above-identifred patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 6, line 57 (claim 9, line 2) "first interior" should read firstsection Signed and Scaled this AIMS!) RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANNArresting Officer Commissioner of Parents and Trademarks

1. A flexible and compressible cushion for use in lining a bathtubhaving a bottom, spaced apart side walls, and a back wall, the cushionincluding a first section having a hollow interior and shaped to coverthe bottom of the tub, means on the first section for admitting andemptying a substantially incompressible fluid to and from, respectively,the interior of the first section; a second section flexibly joined withthe first section and adapted to provide a compressible thickness, thesecond section being shaped to cover at least a portion of the back wallof the tub, the second section having a hollow interior sealed from theinterior of the first section for receiving and maintaining a supply ofgas under pressure; and third aNd fourth sections flexibly joined withopposite sides of the first section, each being shaped to cover at leasta portion of a respective side wall of the tub, and each having a hollowinterior sealed from the interior of the first section for receiving andmaintaining a supply of gas under pressure.
 2. Apparatus according toclaim 1 in which the hollow interior of the first section issubstantially continuous for the area of the tub bottom.
 3. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 in which the first and second sections are made oftwo overlying sheets of flexible plastic material, and including meansforming a fluid-tight seam around the periphery of the sheets, and meansforming another fluid-tight seam across the width of the sheets toseparate them into a pair of flexibly joined independent compartments.4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the tub has a pair of spacedapart side rims adjoining the side walls, and including fifth and sixthsections flexibly joined with the outer edges of the third and fourthsections, the fifth and sixth sections each having a hollow interiorsealed from the third and fourth sections, respectively, to receive andmaintain a supply of gas under pressure, and each being shaped to coverat least a portion of a respective side rim of the tub.
 5. Apparatusaccording to claim 4 in which the tub includes a back rim adjoining theback wall, and including a seventh section flexibly joined with the edgeof the second section opposite the first section, the seventh sectionhaving a hollow interior sealed from the interior of the second sectionfor receiving and maintaining a supply of gas under pressure, and beingshaped to cover at least a portion of the back rim of the tub. 6.Apparatus according to claim 4 including a separate gas-admitting valvesealed through a wall of each section other than the first section.
 7. Aflexible and compressible bathtub liner for use in lining a bathtubhaving a horizontally disposed bottom surface with an area which extendsbetween an upright front wall, an upright back wall, and spaced apartupright side walls on opposite sides of the bottom surface andcontinuous with the front and back walls to form means for containingwater above the bottom surface of the tub, the bathtub liner including afirst section formed as a bladder having a hollow interior which iscontinuous for substantially the entire area of the tub bottom surfaceso the bladder can cover a substantial portion of the tub bottom surfacewith a depth of water when the bladder interior is filled with water;fluid inlet means to be normally used for admitting and emptying avolume of water to and from, respectively, the hollow interior of thefirst section, the first section supporting the body of a user restingthereon when the hollow interior thereof is filled with water; a secondsection flexibly joined with the first section and having a hollowinterior sealed from the interior of the first section for receiving andmaintaining a supply of gas under pressure, the second section beingshaped to cover a substantial portion of the back wall of the tub; gasinlet means to be normally used for admitting a supply of gas to theinterior of the second section and for effectively maintaining the gasunder pressure within the interior of the second section; third andfourth sections flexibly joined with opposite sides of the firstsection, the third and fourth sections each being shaped to cover atleast a portion of a respective side wall of the tub, and each having ahollow interior sealed from the interior of the first section forreceiving and maintaining a supply of gas under pressure.
 8. A flexibleand compressible bathtub liner for use in lining a bathtub having ahorizontally disposed bottom surface with an area which extends betweenan upright front wall, an upright back wall, and spaced apart uprightside walls on opposite sides of the bottom surface and continuous withthe front and back walls to form means for containing water aboVe thebottom surface of the tub, the bathtub liner including a first sectionformed as a bladder having a hollow interior which is continuous forsubstantially the entire area of the tub bottom surface so the bladdercan cover a substantial portion of the tub bottom surface with a depthof water when the bladder interior is filled with water; fluid inletmeans to be used normally for admitting and emptying a volume of waterto and from, respectively, the hollow interior of the first section, thefirst section supporting the body of a user resting thereon when thehollow interior thereof is filled with water; a second section flexiblyjoined with the first section and having a hollow interior sealed fromthe interior of the first section for receiving and maintaining a supplyof gas under pressure, the second section being shaped to cover asubstantial portion of the back wall of the tub; gas inlet means to benormally used for admitting a supply of gas to the interior of thesecond section and for effectively maintaining the gas under pressurewithin the interior of the second section; and in which the firstsection has an end remote from the junction between the first and secondsections, the fluid inlet means comprising a flexible elongated fillertube opening through the first section and projecting away from saidremote end to be normally used for filling the first section with waterfrom a bathtub faucet while the first section is resting on the tubbottom.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which the hollow interiorof the first interior has a flexible top wall spaced from a flexiblebottom wall, and including means sealing the interior of the top wall tothe interior of the bottom wall at several spaced apart locations aboutthe first section to reduce bulging of the first section when it isfilled with water.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which thehollow interior of the first section is substantially continuous for thearea of the tub bottom.